<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/broadbeach-qld-4218">Broadbeach</a> offers plenty of reasons to live vertically, but moving from a substantial family home into an apartment can expose the compromises of high-density living. Privacy, room for guests and usable living space tend to matter more when an apartment is intended as a permanent home rather than an occasional coastal base.

A typical residential floor at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a>, on Surf Parade,&nbsp;contains just four apartments. The 94-residence development by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> is predominantly made up of expansive three-bedroom homes, with a limited collection of half-floor penthouses above.

Across the apartment floors, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> has used the relatively limited number of residences to give each home greater access to natural light and outlook. Living spaces extend towards full-height glazing, while a series of bay windows frame selected views across the Pacific Ocean, city and hinterland rather than treating the building edge as a continuous wall of glass.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360965]

“The apartment floors deliver a collection of homes that embrace controlled outlook via a series of bay windows deliberately framing moments of view,” Rothelowman Director Kim Lowman said.

From outside, those projecting forms contribute to the tower’s faceted profile. Strong horizontal and vertical elements establish its proportions, while the changing position of the sun alters the light, shadow and reflection across the façade throughout the day.

The same attention moves inside the apartments, where the material palette combines warm timber, natural stone, metallic detailing and softer curved forms. Kitchens sit within the main living zone, with stone island benches, integrated joinery and European appliances, before the living areas extend towards the glazing and the outlook.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360981]

Three genuine bedrooms provide room to accommodate family and guests, while two secure car spaces and storage address some of the practical considerations that can become more noticeable when moving from a larger home. Feedback from the display suite has centred on the warmth and restraint of the interiors, with buyers commenting that the residences feel like homes rather than conventional coastal apartments.

A limited collection of half-floor penthouses occupies the upper levels, increasing the scale of the living spaces and adding private balconies and elevated finishes. From this position, the outlook extends between the ocean and hinterland.

Outside the private residences, The Eveleigh separates its shared spaces between the podium and rooftop. The podium is centred on wellness, with subtropical landscaping surrounding a swimming pool and pool terrace, yoga garden, private gymnasium, sauna and hot and cold plunge facilities. Landscaped retreats and pavilions provide additional places to sit away from the main recreation areas.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360966]

Higher in the building, a rooftop pavilion and private dining suite sit alongside resident lounge, barbecue and outdoor dining areas, opening towards panoramic views across the ocean, city and hinterland.

“Buyers are no longer just looking for an apartment, but a lifestyle where they can relax, reset, and enjoy a balanced way of living,” Hirsch &amp; Faigen Director of Sales Matt George said.

Interest to date has come from established owner-occupiers and interstate lifestyle purchasers, including buyers planning a future move to the Gold Coast. Many are coming from larger homes and want to reduce ongoing maintenance without giving up space for family and guests, privacy, two car spaces or the ability to entertain at home.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360969]

Much of that daily life can also take place beyond the building without requiring a drive. Kurrawa Beach and Pratten Park are an easy walk from Surf Parade, while Pacific Fair, Oracle Boulevard, The Oasis, restaurants, cafés, entertainment and public transport are also within walking distance.

The Eveleigh is Hirsch &amp; Faigen's fourth Gold Coast development since entering the market in 2021, following The Hemingway at Palm Beach, The Emerson at Kirra and Yves at Mermaid Beach. Each of the preceding projects sold out before completion.

“Broadbeach had been on our radar throughout our time operating on the Gold Coast,” the developer said. “Following our projects in Palm Beach, Kirra and Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach represented the natural next step for the business.”

The Surf Parade site brought together proximity to the beach, protected coastal outlooks and walkability to dining, shopping and recreation. Hirsch &amp; Faigen also identified the street as an emerging premium residential address, with enough separation from Broadbeach's busier destinations to retain a quieter environment at home.

The Eveleigh is now under construction by Maxcon, with completion forecast for mid-2028. Three-bedroom residences are currently available from $2.87 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149670]

Joel Robinson

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

A long-stalled Campbelltown development site is back in play, with new plans for 139 apartments set to supersede a mixed-use scheme approved almost a decade ago but never built.

The new proposal for 28 Cordeaux Street would deliver 116 market and 23 affordable apartments in a part 14-storey building, bringing a substantial new project into a Campbelltown market where new apartment supply remains limited.

Plans have been filed over the 3,092 sqm corner site at Moore-Oxley Street, around 600 metres from Campbelltown Railway Station and the city-centre retail core.

The site already carries a mixed-use residential approval dating to 2016. Doroch Architects has now been engaged on a larger replacement scheme, which is progressing as a State Significant Development Application following a Housing Delivery Authority determination in August 2025.

The apartment mix comprises 39 one-bedroom, 72 two-bedroom and 28 three-bedroom residences. Two-bedroom apartments make up just over half of the project, while three-bedroom homes account for 20 per cent.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="136dd5b9-3791-4da6-9e31-76f533f5b4de" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da2.png?VersionId=LgOSy9nwf5u.MGswBBwaGGxuX8QpHSl_" />

Of the 139 apartments, 23 will be delivered as affordable housing under the in-fill affordable housing provisions of the Housing SEPP. The affordable component represents 15 per cent of the residential gross floor area and will be managed by a registered Community Housing Provider.

Doroch has sought to break the scale of the building into two distinct elements, with a masonry podium of around four storeys establishing the street edge before the residential tower steps back above.

The corner position has shaped that approach. Cordeaux Street faces toward the commercial and civic centre, while Moore-Oxley Street leads into the lower-scale residential neighbourhood to the south, and the design verification report describes the site as "bridging the commercial core to the north and established residential areas to the south."

The podium will be expressed predominantly in face brick, while the upper levels shift to brushed and grooved concrete cladding with darker metal detailing. Recessed sections, deep balcony edges and landscaping break down the upper form, with an approximately 11.8-metre setback to the northern boundary addressing the adjoining St Peters Anglican School.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c8b3d2d3-c561-4bfc-a5d9-a68c0c10dac1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da1.png?VersionId=AeAEyJU02Gk2k5noUj2StziCvdQ7fW4B" />

Campbelltown has been starved of new residential developments in the last decade.

The only other notable development set to come to market this year is ALAND's Queen Square, a mixed-use precinct on over two hectares that will comprise apartments above a vibrant ground-level retail and hospitality dining precinct.

First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site

First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches apartments for low-rise Deception Bay

Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]

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Nova Rêve arrives as Reve Group bets on Castle Hill's next growth phase

Prominent New Zealand apartment and hotel operator, <a href="/developers/safari-group">Safari Group</a>, is offering up a prime investment opportunity for Australians to purchase off the plan in one of the world’s most popular ski destinations.

They recently took to market Mountain Oak Queenstown Apartments, in the growing precinct of Remarkables Park in Frankton, near the airport and at the foot of The Remarkables - the mountain range the locals like to call “The Remarks”.&nbsp;

Sydney investors have shown interest in the one, two and three-bedroom apartments that secure high-season occupancy six months over the year, primarily over summer and winter months.

They average 90 per cent occupancy across their portfolio over January, February, March, August, November and December, while shoulder season months of April, July, September and October are still occupied 70 per cent of the time, with the growing appeal of Queenstown becoming not just a hotspot for the snow, but a lifestyle destination.

Even in the low seasons of May and June, occupancy levels reach around 40 per cent.

<img alt="Safari Group’s Mountain Oak Apartments brings new investment potential to Queenstown" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_auto/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Ext_Cam15_Sunny.jpg?VersionId=SJAROUM_1s.Tr5ciMk4EEj5oAt_Vewmv" />

Safari’s Safari Hotels arm can also manage the holiday letting for an investor, from the listing on holiday accommodation websites such as Airbnb and Booking.com to the cleaning and maintenance of the investment. They’ve been in the short stay management business for 15 years and offer 24/7 support for investors, an important convenience benefit for any overseas investor

Another major drawcard for Australians is that New Zealand doesn’t have a stamp duty policy - so the entry price of NZ$639,000 (AU$586,000), is all that is payable on completion.

<img alt="Safari Group’s Mountain Oak Apartments brings new investment potential to Queenstown" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/313_Livingv2_WEB.jpg?VersionId=nV229fM0ZeYpoxOrX372HyGjfwY_LR8c" />

Safari is starting construction of the 141 apartments in Q2 this year, with a two-year build estimated to complete in mid-to-late 2027.<img alt="" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="15" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXczFpFAb7WuA6f4f9TtKWcqXyNwR8qqtakWv352ERkpqNlP3KwIo8YKxw67jZNHfpjEGIZGv5MQTbnvLZwNt8iu9IVdOrswOjCvBZ4zhSoOOLrpt6etVEZTN1gkBho0r_R72zdHNA?key=yq3daOanqHSb88QFd8jGYKdb" title="Click and drag to move" width="15" />​

The apartments will feature modern amenities and contemporary designs with expansive windows capturing sweeping views of The Remarkables mountain range.&nbsp;

Interiors are equipped with modern finishes, premium appliances, and secure electronic key-locked doors, ensuring a comfortable living experience for residents and guests alike.

With its strategic location near Coronet Peak and Cardrona Alpine Resort, as well as key retail and dining precincts such as Market Street, Five Mile Shopping Centre, and Remarkables Market, Mountain Oak offers a strong proposition for investors seeking high rental yields and capital appreciation in one of New Zealand’s most sought-after locations.&nbsp;

Queenstown’s sustained demand for visitor accommodation and rental properties is underpinned by a shortage of housing options, attracting both local and international buyers.

Safari Group offers low-touch investment proposition in Queenstown’s popular ski fields district

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<div>If anyone doubted APRA's commitment or ability to quell interest-only lending, then they definitely shouldn't any more.</div>
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<div>New interest-only loans have been smashed to smithereens, down from 45.6 per cent of the market at the 2015 peak to just 16.9 per cent.</div>
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<div>Banks continue to wind back high loan-to-value ratio (LVR) lending, continuing a trend that has been underway for 4 years now. </div>
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<div>Property buyers will not only need to pay back principal, they'll need to have a decent deposit too.</div>
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<div>Despite this, the total value of residential mortgages on ADI books rose by +6.9 per cent over the year to September, as the pendulum swings from investors to homebuyers.</div>
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<div>A seismic shift in the market then, as more borrowers will now be compelled to pay back some debt.</div>
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<div>With interest-only lending peaking in 2015, the greatest volume of rollovers will occur in 2020 - <a href="http://petewargent.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/p-cliff" target="_blank">see here</a> for my thoughts on what might happen then. </div>
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PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of <a href="https://allenwargent.com/" target="_blank">AllenWargent</a> property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blogger</a>.
 
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pwargent-M4siyDbqQY

APRA strikes back to quell IO lending

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GUEST OBSERVER
Australian governments have stepped into the market at critical times since the late 19th century to encourage and channel investment in affordable housing. With rising housing stress in Sydney, Melbourne and other areas, the Australian government has now done just that.
On Friday, Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar slipped into the National Housing Conference in Sydney to announce a government guarantee on investment in affordable housing.
The announcement went largely unreported, but it was significant. The guarantee is a crucial piece of the affordable housing policy architecture, complementing the “bond aggregator” (or intermediary) mechanism announced in the budget. Treasurer Scott Morrison and Treasury officials have been working on this intermediary, a National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation, over the past 18 months.
These combined measures should create an efficient private investment pathway into social and affordable housing for super funds, insurance companies and other entities hungry for low-risk returns.
The government’s Affordable Housing Working Group outlined this approach, drawing on a number of our reports commissioned through the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI). These assembled powerful evidence from a range of countries of the proven record of government-backed financial intermediaries and debt guarantees in affordable housing finance systems.
Judging from responses to the Treasury consultation paper, the guarantee enjoys strong industry and political support.
This development could also catalyse efforts to build a national housing accord backed by industry, civil society and welfare groups to expand affordable housing for the growing number of Australians in need. A campaign in support of this, Everybody’s Home, was foreshadowed at last week’s conference.
New model based on an old principle
A government guarantee to back bonds issued by the new NHFIC marks a welcome return to the Commonwealth’s former role of actively enabling investment in housing for low and moderate-income households. Historically, this involved reshaping circuits of investment to increase supply, improve quality, deliver better-planned suburbs, ensure returning soldiers were housed, broaden access to home ownership and provide security for households not served by a failing market.
The government support for investment will guarantee access to cost-effective private finance for community housing providers. It will be backed by a secure cash flow from rental income supported by Commonwealth Rent Assistance.
Affordable housing includes not only rental housing geared to income but also below-market-rate rental housing and home ownership. This offers a refuge for households unable to afford housing at market rates.
Coupled with dedicated public funding, the guarantee could turn what has been a trickle of short-term and costly bank debt into a hugely increased flow of longer-term and lower-risk investment.
Why invest in social housing?
Our AHURI-funded international research has found that long-term and patient capital makes an ideal partner for affordable rental housing. Instead of capital gains from sales, the steady cash flows from rent revenue offer secure returns. This is what makes it attractive to pension funds.
Combined with public co-investment and not-for-profit management, secure affordable housing outcomes are more assured.
This investment ultimately saves us all money. Too many Australian households are one step from homelessness, which is devastating for any family. The costs of homelessness to the nation are also huge.
But it’s not just a matter of cost. Homelessness is an affront to the Australian values of compassion and a fair go, often underestimated by political leaders.
Lessons from overseas are clear
The government’s re-engagement with efforts to boost affordable rental housing is in tune with moves in other similar countries.
Just last month Canada released its first national housing strategy, highlighting housing as a human right. The aim is to increase the supply of moderate rent and supportive housing by at least 100,000 homes over 11 years. A National Housing Co-investment Fund will provide A$16.5 billion to repair and expand the affordable housing stock.
Also last month, the UK government announced a new round of debt guarantees for “build to rent” development, alongside A$15.7 billion in direct investment and increased borrowing caps for social housing.
It is true the most effective affordable housing policy levers available to governments are land supply and direct public investment. This was the approach taken in early postwar Australia.
But since the 1990s Australian governments have shown no inclination to re-adopt this model. As an alternative, international best practice combines the most cost-effective long-term investment with strategic public investment in well-regulated not-for-profit landlords.
Finland offers an example. In a country one-fifth the size of Australia, 9,000 social housing dwellings are built each year. This is financed by low-cost government-guaranteed loans via a public intermediary, with interest subsidies and conditional grants to not-for-profit providers.
Finland has the lowest rate of homelessness in Europe. Young Finns leave their parental home and become independent earlier than anywhere else in the European Union. It’s a clever housing system, not based on the luck of the market or family fortune.
Now to tackle the public funding gap
Australian governments have long talked the talk of decent homes for all. But they have struggled to align policy on land development, property taxation and social security accordingly. Our political leaders have simply failed to reform our planning and tax systems to favour affordable housing.
The social housing investment guarantee represents an important return by the Commonwealth to leadership in housing policy and investment. It will bring in a large and willing industry super sector, delivering not only returns for policy holders but also real gains for society at large.
However, enabling more cost-effective private finance can narrow but not eliminate the shortfall in funding for social and affordable housing so that the books balance. As the government’s own advisory body made clear, this policy framework can realise its potential only when government commits the funding needed to bridge this gap.
Julie Lawson, Honorary Associate Professor, RMIT University.
Hal Pawson, Associate Director - City Futures - Urban Policy and Strategy, City Futures Research Centre, Housing Policy and Practice, UNSW.
Vivienne Milligan, Senior Visiting Fellow - City Futures Research Centre, Housing Policy and Practice, UNSW.
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/government-guarantee-opens-investment-highway-to-affordable-housing-88549" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Government guarantee opens investment highway to affordable housing: UNSW

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CoreLogic's September quarter regional area insights has once again confirmed The Illawarra region in New South Wales as the country’s standout regional performer by recording the largest annual increase in home values of 13.0 per cent for houses and 17.0 per cent for units.  
In contrast, Townsville stood as the only region where values for both houses and units fell over the year to September.  Based on overall transaction activity, the Gold Coast region experienced the biggest fall with dwelling sales down -8.7 per cent over the year to August 2017.    For rental rates, the Gold Coast saw the largest increase in advertised rental rates for houses, up 6.0 per cent ($30/week) over the year to September 2017, followed by Richmond-Tweed houses at 5.6 per cent ($25/week). Townsville and Bunbury were the only two regions to see rental rates fall over the 12 months to September 2017. 
<h3>New South Wales </h3>
<ul>
<li>Of the three regions analysed for this report (Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, Illawarra and Richmond-Tweed), all experienced home values growth over the year to September 2017; the largest increase was within the Illawarra region, where house and unit values increased by 13.0 per cent and 17.0 per cent respectively, followed by Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.  </li>
<li>In terms of sales activity for the three NSW regions, volumes fall over the year to August 2017 with The Illawarra region experiencing the biggest fall in sales activity with transactions down -5.4 per cent, or 323 fewer homes selling when compared to August 2016. Rental rates increased across all three regions.  </li>
<li>Houses in the Richmond-Tweed region saw the largest increase with rental rates up 5.6 per cent, followed by houses in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie region (5.0 per cent).  </li>
</ul>
<h3>Queensland </h3>
<ul>
<li> Dwelling sales fell in four of the five regions over the year to August 2017 with the largest fall seen across the Gold Coast, where sales volumes are down -8.7 per cent, followed by Townsville (-6.3 per cent), Cairns (-5.3 per cent) and the Sunshine Coast (2.6 per cent). Across the Wide Bay, sales are in line with one year ago.  </li>
<li>Townsville was the only region to see home values fall, while the Sunshine Coast region saw the largest increase in house values (7.1 per cent), and the Gold Coast region saw the largest increase in unit values (6.9 per cent) values.  </li>
<li> Across the Queensland rental market, the Gold Coast region recorded the largest increase in rental rates for houses (6.0 per cent), while Townsville saw rental rates fall over the year.  </li>
</ul>
<h3>Victoria</h3>
<ul>
<li>Sales activity was down -1.9 per cent across Geelong, while the Latrobe-Gippsland region saw a slight increase (1.8 per cent) in the amount of homes transacting over the year to August. Both regions saw home values increase over the 12 months to September, with values increasing by 8.8 per cent for houses and 6.1 per cent for units in Geelong, compared to the Latrobe-Gippsland region, where house and unit values increased by 4.8 per cent and 1.9 per cent respectively.  </li>
</ul>
<h3>Western Australia </h3>
<ul>
<li>Bunbury region saw house values increase by 2.6 per cent over the year to September 2017, while unit values fell -4.4 per cent. Sales volumes across the region fell -3.9 per cent over the 12 months to August, with current activity -14 per cent below the five year average. Rental rates in the Bunbury region fell -3.6 per cent for houses and -9.1 per cent for units when compared to September 2016. </li>
</ul>
  Across all three quarters in 2017 (March, June and September) The Illawarra region has consistently recorded the largest annual increase in home values each quarter, followed by the Newcastle &amp; Lake Macquarie and Richmond-Tweed regions.     Cairns has seen minimal movement in home values, while Townsville has recorded a negative annual increase in home values each of the quarters. Townsville and Bunbury were the only regions to see rental rates fall over the 12 months to March, June and September for both houses and units, while Wide Bay units remained unchanged over the same period.    Overall, our latest data points to an increase of value growth in regional markets, particularly those which are located adjacent to capital cities. As people are priced out of certain capital cities, buyers now appear to be looking to these adjacent regions.
Home owners in Sydney and Melbourne have seen a substantial rise in housing equity over recent years. Subsequently, we are seeing some evidence that these buyers are starting to look for holiday and investment properties in certain regional markets which is also providing an impetus for some of the value growth we are currently seeing. 
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Townsville the weakest region for both house and unit prices: CoreLogic

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AMP Capital has received Stage 2 Development Application (DA) approval to refurbish Sydney’s first skyscraper, 33 Alfred Street, Circular Quay, from the City of Sydney.
Built in 1962, 33 Alfred Street has local heritage listing and is an iconic part of Sydney’s harbour skyline.  
The work, which is due to start in 2021, will include refreshing the building’s façade as well as modernising its services and interior while maintaining its heritage characteristics and reinstating lost building features. 
Once complete, the building will be premium grade, with improved environmental performance. The Alfred Street building is targeting a 5 Star NABERS rating and a 5 Star Green Star v3 rating.
AMP Capital real estate chief operating officer Louise Mason spoke on the redevelopment approval.
“We are delighted to have received approval for the redevelopment of 33 Alfred Street from the City of Sydney, who we have consulted with on this project for more than two years.  After 55 years, it’s time to upgrade the building and give it new life for many more decades of service. 
“This work will make 33 Alfred Street one of Sydney’s most highly sought-after, premium-grade office buildings.  However, it will still be recognisable as one of the most loved and distinctive buildings at Circular Quay, the gateway to Sydney.” 
AMP Capital has been advised by architect JPW.  33 Alfred Street is jointly owned by investors in the AMP Capital Diversified Property Fund and the AMP Capital Wholesale Office Fund.
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AMP Capital receives go ahead to revitalise historic 33 Alfred Street, Sydney

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Pfizer Australia, one of the world's leading biopharmaceutical companies, is relocating its Australian office into a new building in the heart of the Sydney CBD. 
The building - Barrack Place, at 151 Clarence St, will be one of the most advanced buildings in its class in Sydney when it is finished in 2018.
Pfizer will occupy the top four floors of this new prestigious building in an emerging entrepreneurial and innovation hub. The immediate business precinct is where many innovative businesses have set up such as Atlassian and Apple.
Melissa McGregor, managing director of Pfizer Australia said the company are proud of their manufacturing legacy at their West Ryde site over the past 60 years.
“Locating Pfizer Australia in this burgeoning business precinct - in the heart of the Sydney CBD - positions us strongly for the next 60 years. We are making a deliberate move to be at the cross section of society – businesses, Government, customers, and the general community all intersect in the Sydney CBD. 
“We will be part of the innovation and creativity that surrounds the area. In part because of the location, we will continue to attract vibrant and talented people to work at Pfizer Australia, as we have done for many years.”
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Pfizer is delivering on its sustainability responsibilities by getting 400 single- occupancy cars off the road every business day.
The building is currently under construction and is being built to world-class standards in terms of amenities, energy rating and environmental sustainability.
“As it’s a new building, we have the opportunity to design, shape and construct our internal workspace to our exacting and unique specifications. As you can appreciate, such opportunities are rare – particularly in this exciting location,” McGregor said.
Pfizer Australia plans to move its employees by December 2018 when building works are completed. Pfizer was assisted by Pepper Property for its Sydney office search.
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Pfizer Australia to relocate to a state of the art CBD location in 2018

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Wang Jianlin, the chairman of Chinese property group Dalian Wanda, plans to sell his majority stake in Wanda’s Hong Kong-listed arm to a privately held holding company fully owned by the business tycoon.
The proposed deal would mean the sale of Wang’s 3,055,043,100 shares or 65.04 per cent ownership stake in Wanda Hotel Development to Wanda Investment Holding Company (New Holdco) for HK$1.20 a share, or the equivalent in shares from New Holdco, the Financial Times reported citing a regulatory filing.
The two subsidiaries signed a legally non-binding letter of intent to complete the sale before January 31 of next year, the FT said.
Monday’s announcement is part of an ongoing asset reshuffling between Dalian’s remaining listed arm and Wanda’s unlisted holding companies. 
That reshuffle has decreased the overall transparency of the Wanda empire. 
Wanda Hotel Development has been transformed from a property developer to solely managing and designing Wanda’s tourism and hotel properties in an “asset light” approach the developer has taken to mitigate low property sales. 
The proposed sale could give Wang, the chairman, greater control over another piece of Dalian Wanda’s network of subsidiaries as he centralises assets under New Holdco and unlisted holding company Dalian Wanda Commercial Properties (DWCP). Mr Wang privatised DWCP last year. 
Dalian Wanda was one of the four Chinese companies regulators began probing this year for systemic financial risks after it embarked on an aggressive deal-making spree overseas. 
Wanda also sold its interest in its largest ski resort to a friendly company earlier this year, the FT reported.
The sale, uncovered by a search of corporate records, seems to be an effort by Wanda to rebuild its finances amid government pressure to rein in its dealmaking activities. 
Corporate registry information on the Changbaishan ski resort, in China’s north-west near the North Korean border, was changed in June to show that Dalian Yifang group holds 98.33 per cent of Changbaishan stock and Wanda is no longer on the shareholder list.
The price and the timing were not immediately available. 
Dalian Wanda declined to comment. 
Dalian Wanda have said from time to time they ascertain interest in its property projects. But they deny this week's report by the South China Morning Post that Wanda were offering to sell five of its biggest overseas properties in the UK, US and Australia.
In August the group had to come out and deny rumours they were selling their Gold Coast and Sydney projects, which comprise $2 billion of the $6.6 billion portfolio.
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Dalian Wanda chairman Wang plans to sell stake to self-owned holding company

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Famous Italian fashion designer Versace will soon open its first stand-alone store in Australia, having signed a lease for a store in the revamped T&amp;G building in Melbourne’s Collins Street.
Versace signed a 10-year lease for a 307 sqm company-owned store with prime Collins Street frontage in the former banking chamber.
Italian brands such as Gucci store and Bottega Veneta already trade in the building.
The only other Versace store in Australia is in Westfield Sydney on Pitt Street Mall.
Pembroke, the investment arm of Boston fund manager Fidelity, bought the iconic T&amp;G Building in a $275 million deal in 2015. It has since upgraded the ground-floor shops and the office floors above.
Rents in the new T&amp;G retail arcade streets are understood to have been struck at about $4000 per sqm.
Collins Street is a favourite with luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Dolce &amp; Gabbana and Armani.
Matthew Knight, head of Australia for Pembroke Real Estate, was quoted by the AFR as saying that the three luxury tenancies would make a "real statement" at the T&amp;G building's Collins Street entrance and went "hand in glove with other tenants in the area".
He said he did not expect the arrival of Amazon in Australia to have much impact on the luxury retail sector.
"I think people who shop for luxury go for the experience and to get looked after. You don't get that personal touch and attention from shopping on Amazon. I think it will be more the middle-tier retailers that will be impacted," he said.
The Versace, Gucci and Bottega Veneta deals were through leasing agent Zelman Ainsworth of CBRE. Another luxury retailer, Max Mara, is also part of the retail mix.
 
 
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Versace to open first standalone store in Collins Street’s T&G building 

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The Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation has leased Horbury House, a Macquarie Street building in the Sydney CBD, for its new headquarters.
The heritage offices at 171 Macquarie Street are owned by UK businessman Sir Martyn Arbib. The offices are his family's only known Australian investment. They cost $5.35 million in 2005.
Built in 1842, the Georgian style, three storey building has just undergone a full refurbishment.
The newly launched centre, which supports arts and humanities teaching at universities, signed a five-year lease on confidential terms.
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Colliers International's Tom Buxton handled negotiations.
Horbury House is a combined pair of three storey terraces with a basement, originally part of a terrace of seven residences extending from the corner, and part of a continuous streetscape of terraces.
They are one of the last residential terraces in Macquarie Street and are set between a 1970s office development and a 1940s office building.
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The Macquarie Street building is of historic, aesthetic and social significance as a rare surviving colonial city terrace retaining its external form and indicating the type of development that characterised Macquarie Street in the mid-nineteenth century.
Only the facade and some roof framing survive from the 1842 building constructed for Ousley Condell.
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It was named after Horbury, an area in England.
From the 1890's its access to Sydney Hospital made the terrace an ideal site for surgeon's professional rooms. More recently, as the medical character of the street changed, it has been used as company offices.
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Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation leases Macquarie Street Georgian relic, Horbury House

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<div>The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) released its Financial Aggregates figures for October 2017, which showed housing credit expanding by +6.5 per cent over the past 12 months.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Investor credit is slowing, but total housing credit growth remained higher than a year earlier, when it was +6.4 per cent.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Total housing credit broke through $1.7 trillion on the strength in owner-occupier lending. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>$60 billion of loans have now been reclassified from investor to owner-occupier. </div>
 
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<div>Personal credit contracted by -0.9 per cent over the year, while annual business credit growth was steady at +4 per cent. Know your limits
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>APRA also released its monthly banking statistics, which revealed a similar trend, with the monthly result showing considerably faster growth in owner-occupier loans (+0.6 per cent) than investment lending (+0.15 per cent). </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Comparing the aggregates suggests that non-banks continue to garner market share. </div>
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<div>Westpac has been offering discounted investor loans of late, and took the opportunity to grow its investment loans books further in the month (it already has the largest mortgage book pertaining to investors). </div>
 
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<div>Indeed, not only is new interest-only lending now well below the proposed regulatory cap, all of the major banks are now seeing investor credit growing at way below the 10 per cent annual speed limit. </div>
 
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<div>These statistics show that there is potentially plenty of scope for banks to incentivise faster investor lending in 2018, particularly Commonwealth Bank and ANZ Bank. Oh, and there's a Royal Commission to follow!</div>
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RBA's October Financial Aggregates figures sees housing credit expand

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Two months in from its September launch, CreativeCubes.Co residency is at four times the original forecast.
Over 40 percent of its 350-seat capacity has been snapped up with members including Uber Eats, Hummingbird Superfoods and Legalite Lawyers.
The facility’s state-of-the-art event space is also regularly used by advertising powerhouse REA Group and AirBNB, with plans to open a second hub in February.
That Hawthorn development is already at 25 percent capacity before its construction.
Key stats to support an angle around the success of Melbourne’s co-working market:
- The number of co-working spaces in Melbourne has grown by 35% in the last year (Knight Frank); are they now at a point of affecting the city’s real estate? - After launching in Building X (former Xerox HQ in the heart of Church Street’s commercial precinct), CreativeCubes.Co is already at 42% capacity - just two months from launch - Its next Hawthorn hub will open door in February, already at 25% capacity before opening - highlighting an appetite for a new way of leasing property - CreativeCubes.Co plan to open 3-5 more office spaces (nationally) in the next 18 months
JLL office leasing manager Matt Brown-Graves looked after the Cremorne lease.
“Three years ago, there were about 10 co-working spaces in Victoria - now there are over 80. Before they even open, we are seeing 40-50% occupancy rates, with building spaces spanning from 500-7000sqm," Brown-Graves said.
"The city fringe market, particular Richmond, has been crying out for these share offices, which is why they are seeing success.
“We are seeing a significant increase in enquiries from both major global and local boutique operators.
 
 
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